Rangers Tater Their Way Back Into Series

A three run second inning bomb hit by Mitch Moreland, who wasn't even sure he'd be in the lineup, was more than enough runs to make the Texas Rangers 4-2 winners over the Baltimore Orioles in Friendly (at least to Texas) Arlington, Texas. Josh Hamilton hit a solo shot. Rangers starting pitcher Colby Lewis gave up those two runs in his 7 2/3 innings He was dependable, efficient and smart. The bullpen finished up with goose eggs to make the Series a 2-1 affair with two more in Arlington. Here's Ranger manager Ron Washington...

"We wanted to get back home. We felt comfortable here. We knew we could finally put a good game together, and we did. We're still down one game, but it's shifted."

Hey Ron, if you win the next two at home, you'd be in great shape heading west. That's the only way you'd be in great shape. Tonight's game three begins at 8:20pm edt tonight on Fox and Fox HD. The Giants will start left hander Madison Bumgarner and toiling for the Rangers will be the righty Tommy Hunter. The following profiles of each hurler appear courtesy of this morning's DALLAS MORNING NEWS...

"Rangers RHP Tommy Hunter: In two postseason starts, Hunter is 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA for 7 1/3 innings. Hunter has been unable to slow left-handed hitters with the cut fastball as he did during the regular season. In the regular season, Hunter held left-handed hitters to a .272 average with a .437 slugging percentage. In the postseason, left-handed hitters are batting .307 with a .500 slugging percentage for 26 at-bats against Hunter. He is 7-1 with a 3.14 ERA at home this season. Hunter has never faced San Francisco, and only two Giants have had an at-bat against him. Pat Burrell is 1-for-3, and Cody Ross is 0-for-1."

"Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner: The term "soft-tossing lefty" does not apply to Bumgarner. He has a legitimate mid-90-mph fastball and likes to challenge hitters with it early in games before working in a slider and a changeup. In his last start, against Philadelphia , Bumgarner threw fastballs on 21 of his first 29 pitches. Bumgarner opened the game with four scoreless innings before allowing three runs without finishing the fifth. Bumgarner is 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA for 122/3 innings in the postseason. Bumgarner has never faced the Rangers. Jorge Cantu is the club's only hitter who has hit against him, going 1-for-3."

Enjoy. I'm almost rooting (I AM Rooting) for the Rangers just for the excitement of it all. So have a great Sunday, click on this post's title for more on last night, be safe and as always, be BE WELL. Thanks.